Food and Diet. Find daily health food tips and ideas from Dr. David Samadi. Discover healthy food for healthy living. Explore major food issues and debates related to health such as buying and cooking with organic food, genetically modified food (GMO versus Non-GMO), nutrition, dieting epidemic, obesity, disease prevention, best digestion foods.
If the dichotomy term of ‘healthy obese’ has always seemed to be a misnomer, new research is proving it to be most likely true. An as yet unpublished British study presented at the European Congress on Obesity puts into question the ‘fit but fat’ campaign which surfaced about two years ago promoting the mantra that anyone can be fit since weight doesn’t discriminate.
Read MoreWeight loss – it’s a constant battle for many and even when a person does lose some weight, the other struggle is keeping the weight off. How do some people successfully lose significant amounts of weight and maintain the loss while others lose and then regain weight in repeating cycles?
Read MoreAthletes, whether weekend or pro, what to know what foods are best for enhancing athletic performance, help speed up recovery and build muscle mass. There are certain foods that have scientifically been shown to appear to have that athletic enhancing ability helping a person reach their peak performance.
Read MoreNothing is more annoying than experiencing belly bloat. Even though bloating is capable of making you feel puffy and uncomfortable plus making it just about impossible to zip up your skinny jeans, it usually is not serious. It can be due to a variety of things – eating too fast or too much or drinking through a straw. All of these actions can lead to gas buildup in the tummy and that can spell trouble.
Read MoreHave you ever tried mashed cauliflower instead of mashed potatoes? How about chocolate cake made with black beans? Probably not your usual method of cooking but making healthy swaps with not-so-healthy ingredients is becoming more popular as people are becoming more aware and informed about what they eat.
Read MoreMany people turn to high-protein, low carbohydrate foods as they attempt to lose weight, with the belief that protein-rich meals help dieters feel fuller, causing them to eat less, and hence lose weight.
A new study published in The Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics has found that may in fact be the case. Up until now, the theory had not been tested on a large scale.
The study was lead by Richard D. Mattes, MPH, PhD, RD, Distinguished Professor, Department of Nutrition Science, Director of Public Health, and Director of the Ingestive Behavior Research Center at Purdue University. His team combined multiple experiments to confirm a true effect.
The team of researchers searched multiple databases for studies that evaluated the effect of increased protein on fullness ratings. Using a variety of statistical approaches to make sense of the data, they used a quantitative meta-analysis and secondary directional analysis using a vote counting procedure. They say both the meta-analysis and directional analysis indicated that higher protein loads have a grater effect on fullness than lower protein loads.
Dr. Mattes explained, “With the confirmation that protein intake is related satiety, defined as fullness between meals, higher protein intake may allow individuals to feel fuller between meals.”
Yet, while protein may help dieters feel fuller, he says, it's not a magic bullet. “Feelings like hunger and fullness are not the only factors that influence intake, we often eat for other reasons,” he noted.
Fellow researcher, Dr. Heather Leidy, Assistant Professor with the Department of Nutrition & Exercise Physiology at the University of Missouri said it was important to note that the precise amount of protein needed to prolong fullness as well as when to consume protein throughout the day, was not determined. She cautioned that people looking to moderate their energy intake by enhancing the sensation of fullness might want to consider a modest increase in protein consumption as a first step.
Dr. Mattes noted that this study did not specifically evaluate dieters or fitness buffs in particular, who are often fond of increasing their protein-rich foods such as meat, fish and plant-based proteins, when trying to shed excess pounds. But it does seem to suggest that if these short-term effects are sustained over the long-term, increased protein intake may aid in the loss or maintenance of body weight.
